Page 28 of Racking Up Penalties
Tessa pauses, half-dressed, her gaze snagging onto mine. “Tristan, I have to tell her,” she insists, voice trembling slightly. “I can’t keep it from Emma.”
Her declaration slices through my chest, not because I fear Emma’s reaction, but because of the tremor in Tessa’s voice. It confuses me how nervous she seems, Emma loves us both. Wouldn’t she be happy for us?
“Of course,” I agree, smoothing down my hair with my fingers. “She’s your best friend, Tess. She’ll understand.” My attempt at reassurance feels hollow when faced with Tessa’s anxious expression, but I believe it. Emma has to be happy for us; anything else doesn’t fit.
“Okay. Okay,” Tessa repeats to herself more than to me, her hands shaking slightly as she fixes her blouse. Once she’s presentable, she takes a deep breath and turns to face the door, the portrait of determination despite the lingering fear in her eyes.
“Hey,” I say, stepping closer, gently tilting her chin up to look at me. “No matter what happens, we’re in this together.” I need her to see the sincerity in my eyes, the unwavering support behind those words.
Emma’s silhouette fills the doorway. Her green eyes dart from me to Tessa, and I can almost hear the gears turning in her head.
“Guys? What’s going on?” She drops her keys on the small table by the door, her gaze settling into a suspicious squint.
Tessa squeezes my hand before stepping forward, her voice a mix of excitement and nerves. “Emma, we need to talk.”
“Talk?” Emma echoes, her tone cautious, but curious.
“Tristan and I…” Tessa starts, then pauses, taking a deep breath as if to gather her courage. “We’re together. We didn’t plan this, Em. It just…happened.”
I watch the play of emotions over Emma’s face—confusion, surprise, and then, breaking through like sunlight after a storm, joy. A broad grin stretches across her features, and she lets out a delighted squeal, rushing to envelop both of us in an enthusiastic hug.
“Are you serious? This is amazing!” She pulls back, eyes gleaming, as she turns her attention fully to Tessa. “You’ll really be my sister now!”
It’s heartwarming to see Emma so full of happiness for us, her earlier suspicions washed away by genuine affection. The relief in Tessa’s posture is palpable, and I feel it too, a weight lifting off my chest.
“Seriously, Emma,” Tessa’s voice is a bubbling laugh now, “I didn’t know how you’d take it.”
“Take it? How could I not be thrilled? You two are perfect for each other!” Emma declares, still holding onto Tessa’s shoulders.
Then, Emma’s gaze locks with mine, and her expression shifts to one of playful seriousness. “But Tristan,” she warns, the protective older sister coming out in full force, “if you hurt her, I swear I’ll get Alec, Luka, and JD to gut you like a fish.”
The promise in her eyes tells me she’s not joking. Not even a little bit.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Em,” I say, meeting her stare with a solemn nod. “I care about her too much.”
“Good.” Emma nods briskly, satisfied, and then the moment passes like it was never tense at all. She wraps an arm around Tessa’s shoulder and grins. “Now, tell me everything. How did this happen?”
As they start to chat excitedly, the reality of what’s unfolding hits me. Tessa’s more than just a fleeting whimsy; she’s becoming a permanent fixture in my life—and now, in my family. And I’m determined to keep it that way, come what may.
After getting enough information, Emma excuses herself.
The laughter and chatter from Emma’s departure still echo through the apartment as Tessa turns to face me, her playful hazel eyes shimmering with a new kind of question.
“Stay tonight?” she asks, her voice soft. It’s an invitation, but there’s vulnerability in it too.
“Of course,” I answer without hesitation because there’s nowhere else on earth I’d rather be. Her small smile is enough to quicken my pulse, and I follow her to the bedroom, keenly aware that this is uncharted territory for both of us.
Her room is a sanctuary of pastels and soft textures, the very essence of Tessa distilled into decor. She changes into pajamas and slips under the sheets, a siren’s call, and I shed my jeans and shirt, feeling more exposed now than when she had her mouth around my dick on her living room couch.
I join her in bed, the mattress dipping gently under my weight. She scoots closer, tucking herself against my side, her head finding the crook of my shoulder. Our legs entwine and the warmth of her skin seeps into mine, and I drape my arm around her, pulling her even closer.
“Is this okay?” I murmur, seeking confirmation in the dark.
“More than okay,” she whispers back, her breath tickling my chest. I can feel the steady thump of her heart against my side, a rhythm that calms the storm inside me.
Comfortable silence settles between us, only the sound of our breathing filling the room. My mind races with the possibilities of what tomorrow might bring, but for now, I let the peace of the moment wash over me. With Tessa in my arms, the confusion about my romantic feelings fades into certainty. This is where I belong.
As sleep tugs at the edges of my consciousness, I press a kiss to the top of her head—my last conscious act before drifting off to the world of dreams. In the quiet of the night, with Tessa’s steady breathing lulling me to sleep, I’m content, hopeful, and whole.
